Lake Tahoe – Fun Facts and Fun Things to Do

Considered as a year-round vacation resort, Lake Tahoe is home to over a dozen ski and snow boarding facilities, top-rated golf courses, and is the center of a myriad of other fun activities including hiking, boating, gaming, sightseeing and more. What’s more, the “Lake of the Sky” is a sought after wedding and honeymoon destination for adventurous couples looking to unite in matrimony. With all its grandeur in addition to its partiality towards satisfying enthralling interests and providing congenial opportunities, Lake Tahoe is truly a bravura getaway attraction for those in quest of a thrill-seeking weekend or simply planning a tranquil, all-encompassing vacation.

Lake Tahoe borders two states and is situated in Northern California and Nevada amidst the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range at an altitude of 6,225 feet above sea level. It is the second deepest lake in the United States having a maximum depth of 1,645 feet and is the third largest alpine lake in the world. Renowned for its natural beauty and adventurous attributes, Tahoe also has an enriching history of origin.

Historically, the belief was that the Lake Tahoe basin was of volcanic origin. However, the valid theory is that Tahoe’s basin was formed by faulting fractures in the earth’s crust. Faulting fractures cause blocks of earth to move up or down. The uplifting blocks are what created the Carson Range to the east of the lake, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west. Downward moving blocks created the Lake Tahoe Basin that’s presently situated in-between these mammoth mountain ranges.

World-class ski resorts have been developed due to these earthly shifts, producing plenty of winter fun in Tahoe. Seven of these world-class ski resorts that are quite popular include Mt. Rose, Northstar at Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA, Sierra at Tahoe, Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood, and Heavenly Ski Resort. Heavenly is an enormous draw for winter tourism as it is a well-known resort with 4,800 acres of ski terrain that spans across two states, California and Nevada.

Golfing is big in Tahoe in the summer months and early fall. Particularly notable as one of America’s top golf courses and host to a variety of major golf events including the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, Edgewood Tahoe is a first-rate facility that is conveniently located on the south shore on the Nevada state line. Many well-known personalities have golfed on the extraordinary course of Edgewood.

Another popular Tahoe activity to partake in is hiking because there are a variety of trails around the lake leading to the most scenic views imaginable. Eagle Rock, for example, is a dormant volcano located on the west shore, and a 30 minute hike to the top reveals an awe-inspiring panoramic view of the rich blue waters of Lake Tahoe. In close proximity are the trails of Emerald Bay Falls. These are easily travelled paths leading to spectacular views of the falls and tri-colored bay. On the east shore is Spooner Lake, which consists of hiking trails that lead to striking views of the Eastern Sierras.

Boating, parasailing and water skiing are the aquatic summer sports that happen around the lake with boat launches conveniently located throughout. Zephyr Cove Resort on the Nevada side and the Ski Run Marina in California are two places on the south shore of Tahoe that provide skidoo and small paddleboat rentals for those who want to take part in this sort of summer fun.

Having an approximate diameter of twenty-two miles and a width of twelve, Lake Tahoe has a super long shoreline perimeter totaling seventy-two miles. This equates to loads of beaches for sun tanning or lounging, many of which are equipped with picnic tables, barbeque pits, playgrounds, and volleyball and tennis courts. Additionally, there are seasonal afternoon concerts at several beach locations about the lake to add to the summertime enjoyment.

Many times these same beach locations also serve as wedding venues throughout the year. Numerous amounts of engaged couples love the thrill of a lakeside wedding in the exciting town of Tahoe. Regan Beach is one such spot on the south shore where newlyweds-to-be unite in marriage and then undergo the honeymoon celebration with what Tahoe has to offer.

As you travel around the lake you’ll discover many of the small towns frequently hold craft fairs, which offer another form of summer and springtime fun. These fairs are typically composed of jewelry, gift items, modern artwork and an assortment of other items of interest. You’ll also find gaming casinos on the northern and southern shore of Tahoe if you’re interested in some fast-paced action. The casinos provide 24 hour entertainment including slot machines, table games, restaurants, outlandish nightclubs and nightly showroom performances.

Of course, this is not an all-inclusive list of the year-round fun in Tahoe, but it is a small glimpse of what to expect when you arrive. If your preference is a leisurely walk along the sandy beaches or a power hike up the steepest mountain peak, skiing the mogul slopes of Heavenly or playing 18 holes on the finest golf course around, you can bet it’s available at the “Lake of the Sky”. For the weekend thrill-seeker or laid-back vacationer alike, Lake Tahoe is a year-round, dazzling getaway that has it all.